Summer is coming with good weather, small waves and warm water. It’s time to change the wardrobe, put the winter outfit on the back burner and dust off the spring outfit. With planks, the same. Maybe it’s a good time to order a new board to face the new summer season with more motivation.
However, there are some important factors that you should consider before buying a board. Next, pay attention to these 4 important questions so you don’t make a mistake and choose the ideal board
1. Volume isn´t everything
It is not good either to fall short or to exaggerate. There are often many errors here. It is thought that a bulkier board will be better for catching more waves, but this is not always the case. A wide but very short board displaces more water than a longer, narrower board. These boards may have the same volume, but different shapes.
2. The level of learning
Not knowing your level of learning is a very common mistake that can affect the choice of a board. Honestly, recognizing the level of surfing is essential. Don’t think you’re McNamara when you just started learning to surf.
On the other hand, age sometimes plays tricks, but it’s no reason to give up right away. Sometimes it takes time to learn to master the waves (including lots of falls). Finding a board that best suits your level is one of the secrets to enjoying surfing to the fullest.
3. The color of the board isn’t important
One of the most common mistakes a surfing beginner makes is choosing the board with the most aggressive colors and/or the most beautiful design. Wanting to go from 0 to 100 in the middle of the afternoon is a mistake, and it’s easily revealed by someone who started and thinks the world will be conquered in no time.
4. The most expensive isn’t always the best
The price is often confusing. In wetsuits, the price is usually proportional to the quality of the wetsuit. It’s not always like that with surfboards, it’s not just for paying 800 euros for a board that you’re going to fly. In many cases, it’s not the arrow, it’s the Indian.
Now, we answer some common questions that many beginners have when buying their first surfboard.
How to know which is the best surfboard?
If you’ve ever been to a surf school, you’ve probably noticed that the material they lend is a little different from what you’re used to seeing. This is essentially because there are different types of surfboards for beginners, as well as other types of equipment, which we will talk about later.
These surf schools are essentially designed to teach you the basics. The essential. Just the base you need to take into account to go step by step towards an experience full of emotions. For this reason, it is common to start with a softboard (continue reading this article for more details on softboards!)
This is one of the best options to start your intro to surfing. If you’ve already tried it, we can start talking about which board to buy.
Types of surfboards
Do not be discouraged. While these beginner surfboards are designed to help you learn, the truth is that there are many that are really beautiful. That’s why, right from the start, we can have that “cool” design on the new board.
These beginner surfboards have common characteristics: they have more height or width, to help maintain balance and ensure that you catch waves progressively. That’s the magic of surfing. Go slowly.
EVOLUTIVE BOARDS
These are an ideal type of surfboard for beginners. The most famous brands in the surfing world have this type of board that can help you get started. They are usually taller, wider boards and with more generic designs (no less beautiful for that). These guarantee a good feeling in the water, allowing you to enjoy the emotion of living this experience in the best possible way.
SOFTBOARDS, FUNBOARDS AND MINI MALIBU
These beginner surfboards are the most popular options these days. The design of funboards, softboards and mini malibus is very similar to that of evolutionary boards, allowing, thanks to their maneuverability, to take a step forward in surfing.
This makes it one of the best options to become your first surfboard.
What is a softboard?
What we know as a softboard, are soft surfboards with an EPS foam core, covered in an outer layer of a material similar to bodyboards, so they won’t cause damage if you hit it. Basically, it’s a plastic board with a foam surface, which helps you feel safe from bumps and falls.
As for their shape, beginner surfboards usually have a rounded front part for more paddling, a leg wide enough to maintain stability and have a lot of volume to make it easier when catching waves and surfing them.
Softboards are the most used by surf schools. Larger or smaller depending on the physical condition, weight or skill of the student, these types of boards for beginners are used because they offer the best results and the fastest learning.
Are softboards better?
We explain the reasons why a Softboard is the best board you can choose to start surfing:
- price
- shape
- ease for paddling
- shock resistance
These are just some of the main reasons why this type of surfboard is the best option for anyone new to this wonderful sport of surfing.
Surfing is a very complex sport due to the large number of variables that influence our practice, which is why it is so important to choose the right board for beginners.
What size surfboard should I buy?
Your physical characteristics will also determine the type of surfboard that suits you best. In this case it is important to know your height, your own weight and the type of waves you are going to catch.
Normally, the evolutionary board you choose should be about 20-30 or even 40 centimeters longer than you. You’ll just have to stand next to her and compare. Will be easy.
Remember that you can always rent a board before taking a risk.